Americare School of Nursing is located in Fern Park, Florida, about 10 miles north of Orlando. The school was started in 1972 and features a number of medical programs, including radiology, surgical technology, medical assistance and dental assistance. The dental assistant program is part of the Medical Support and Technology degree. In the 2008 to 2009 school year, there were fewer than 400 students.
The dental assistant program takes less than one year to finish and must be completed in 39 weeks. The program trains students so they can assist in a dentist office in both an administrative and clinical capacity. Students participate in lecture sessions as well as an externship where they work in a dentist office to gain practical experience. Students will learn to assist in several areas, including four-handed dentistry, chairside assistance, diagnostics, pediatric dentistry, orthodontic procedures, surgical procedures, dental radiology and practice management. The training program is just over 1,000 hours, with 650 of those hours in the classroom and 360 in clinical instruction.
Americare School of Nursing is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). ABHES was established in 1968 and focuses on three key areas: recognition, resources and service. CODA was established in 1975 and is recognized by the United States Department of Education.
Federal and state financial aid is available to students at the Americare School of Nursing. In 2008, 80 percent of students received some form of financial aid. Pell grants are one form of federal financial aid available. The average amount awarded in 2008 was around $2,000. The school also provides grants, and some students use student loans to cover their tuition.